Record feeding device



15, 1947. w Y E RECORD FEED-ING DEVICE Original Filed Dec. 15, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY Y Y AT roRNEY July 15, 1947. w, AYREs 2,424,073 RECORD FEEDING DEVICE I Original Filed Dec. 15, 1959 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHHII FIGJQ.

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y 1947. w. A. AYRES 2,424,073

RECORD FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed Dec 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet s FIGA .2 23* as.

6065? am I I 1 v X.YZ.' SALES co. L fi m mM-Jfi ME. 3! M l/ x12. SALES 60.

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' lNVENTOl ww w ATTdRNEY y 1947' w. A. AYRES 2,424,073

' RECORD FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed Dec. 15, 1959 4 Sheets Sheet 4 no I INVENTOR A'lTO RNEY Patented July 15, 1947 RECORD FEEDING DEVICE Waldemar A. Ayres, Kew Gardens Hills, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application December 15, 1939, Serial No.

309,445, now Patent No. 2,366,827, dated January 9, 1945.

Divided and this application March 4, 1944, Serial No. 525,112

7 Claims.

This is a division of my application Serial No. 309,445,'filed December 15, 1939, and issued as Patent No. 2,366,827, on January 9, 1945, said application being further divided into three applications, Serial No. 525,111, filed on March e, 1944; Serial No. 737,771, filed on March 28, 1%7; and Serial No. 737,772, filed on March 28, 1947. The parent case, Patent 2,366,827, presents claims to the sensing devices cooperating with records having frictional indicia; the present case, Serial No. 525,112, contains claims for devices for controlling sheet feeding by frictional indicia thereon; the third case, Serial No. 525,111, asserts claims for a control element bearing index points of friction material; the fourth case, Serial No. 737,771, sets forth claims for a control element bearing index points which are mechanically treated to make them frictional; and the fifth case, Serial No. 737,772, presents claims for a control element bearing index points of lubricating material.

This invention relates generally to improvements in devices for making and sensing index points on accounting records and more specifically to means for marking or treating a record to change its frictional characteristics at differential points which are later sensed to control the accumulation and recording of the data represented. The frictional marks may also control the feeding of a sheet bearing them.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control element or card with index points in the form of frictional surface marks which do not weaken the element and do not interfere with printed matter on the element. The friction material may be colorless to avoid confusion with the printed matter over which it may be placed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a record element made of fine paper which. is smooth to the touch but has a high coeflicient of friction, said element having index points marked thereon with graphite, wax or powder to cause certain index areas to have a lower coefficient of friction than the body of the element. As an alternative form of record, there may be used a paper stock which appears rough to the touch but which has a low coefficient of friction and is receptive to marks made with frictional matter such as rubber. gum, ink, pitch or wax which are comparatively higher in frictional characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to treat accounting records with frictional marking materials of either a water or oil base to fix data repre senting index points thereon. For example, the,

2 marking material may be composed of latex plus water soluble glue and added coloring material if desired. Another composition may include rubber dissolved in benzol or any other rubber solvent plus resin dissolved in turpentine plus coloring material if desired.

It is also an object of the invention 'to provide record sensing devices sensitive to all types of data representation.

The sensing devices when adapted to distinguish between areas of differing frictional nature are also suited to sense incised or embossed points as Well as the usual perforated index positions, thus making the sensing controls of a kind universal to all forms of records.

Another object of the invention is to provide ledger sheet posting control devices which cooperate with friction marks on ledger sheets to space said sheets automatically into a first line position beyond the heading area and also for feeding past previously printed items to position a re-inserted sheet to receive item impressions directly under other impressions. A mark of friction material is recorded or deposited as each line of data is printed so that the marks may later control re-insertion to the proper point to resume item printing.

Another feature of the invention is the use of friction marks and sensing devices cooperating therewith to control the feeding of connected forms on a continuous sheet. The lengths of such sheets vary with changes in atmospheric conditions and the lengths of the different forms often difier enough to disturb printing alignment. Therefore it is desirable to have friction marks related to the first line printing positions on succeeding forms to control the spacing of the sheet from form to form.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best modes, which have been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the clutch and gear mechanism for controlling sheet feeding. The magnets for operating under control of the friction mark sensing devices are also shown.

Fig. .la. is a plan View of the marking devices for placing feed control friction marks on ledger sheets.

Fig, 2 is a detail view of the worm drive associated with the platen.

F g. 3 is a detail view showing the relay and armature controls associated with a single revolution clutch release shaft.

Fig. 4 shows a sample ledger sheet marked with marginal friction marks for controlling sheet feeding.

Fig. 5 shows a portion of continuous strip divided into forms, each form having frictional feed control marks.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of dual mark sensing devices adapted to cooperate with the record sheets such as those shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of the sensing devices shown in Fig, 6.

Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the sensing fingers shown in Fig. 6 cooperating with a sheet having spots of friction on a surface of less friction.

Fig. 8a is an end View of a sensing finger arranged in the reverse manner to that of Fig. 8 to bear on a sheet with a high coeflicient of friction containing index points of less friction.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 93 in Fig, 6 and looking on the sensing members in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram of the electrical controls for governing the feeding of record sheets under control of friction marks and the dual mark sensing devices.

The feeding devices of the present invention are adapted to control the positioning of various kinds of record forms. They are arranged to control the initial positioning and the successive reinsertion of ledger sheets, such as the one shown in Fig. 4, and also to control the spacing of forms in a continuous strip, such as that shown in Fig. 5.

The ledger sheet 20 is printed with the usual heading data and in addition thereto has a mark 2| which is of friction material. This mark is placed on the sheet before it is threaded into the accounting machine to receive impressions of the various items. As item entering takes place and lines of print are recorded on the ledger sheet, accompanying each item printing operation is a mark printing operation which serves to place friction marks 22 along the margin in the sheet in line with each related item. Mark 2| is sensed to determine the initial printing position of the sheet and the other marks 22 determine the po sition of the sheet when it is reinserted for additional item entry operations, after having received one or more items on previous operations. When a sheet such as that shown in Fig. 4 is inserted in the machine, it is apparent, since it already contains four lines of item print, that it must be controlled to move automatically into position to receive an item impression on the fifth line.

Turning to the other kind of record media shown in Fig. 5, it is seen that the continuous strip 23 is divided into forms, such as sales slips, which may be of uniform or varying length but will always be shifted into position for recording the first item directly under a heading under control of friction marks 24. These marks bear the same relationship with respect to the heading areas of all forms so that, when sensed, they may govern stopping the feed to locate a form in position to receive the first line of print. After a series of items are recorded, the strip is automatically shifted upon the taking of a total after the recording of the total, and then the sensing devices come into play to stop the strip when the succeeding form arrives at the printing position. The marks 24 are placed on strip 23 at the time the heading is printed thereon or when lines of tearing perforations 45 are Q 12 DQQWQQQ the forms. The nature of the material used in making friction marks 24 need not be of a durable kind, because these marks are sensed only once by the sensing finger resting on the continuous strip. However, marks such as designations 2| and 22 on the sheet 20 of Fig. 4 must retain their frictional characteristics through repeated operation.

Illustrated in Figs. 6-9 is a dual form of friction sensing devices adapted to sense the presence of marks, such as the marks 2| and 22. Upon a fixed portion of a frame 26 there is assembled a leaf spring 21 adjustably held on the frame by a clamp 28 which is insulated by a strip 29. Fixed on the end of spring 21 is a contact blade holder 30 carrying a stiff contact stop member 3| and two flexible contact making blades 32 and 33. Referring to the sectional view shown in Fig. 9, it is seen that holder 30 is formed of a single piece of strip stock which is bent to engage the spring 21 in a fixed manner, while also providing an opening in which member 3| is held and sockets wherein insulating bushings 34 and 35 are assembled to provide holders for the adjustable blades 32 and 33.

Attached to member 3|, but insulated therefrom is a contact holder 36 bearing two points of the pairs of contacts 38 and 39. Strip 31 is an insulator for the holder36.

Assembled on the left end of the outer blade 33 is a mark sensing finger 40 which is shaped as shown in Fig. 8. There it is seen that the finger is made up of a continuous length of strip material bent in a form designed to carry out all the sensing functions. One side 4| of the finger 69 is clamped around the blade 33 to hold it thereon. The center part of the finger is bent downward and then upward in an elongated U form, the bottom of which is rounded tocontact the surface of the record material and there encounter and detect various frictional difierences such as presented by the mark 2| of a higher coefficient of friction than the record 20 upon which it appears. Extending over from the U- shaped portion of the finger 40 is an L-shaped extension "33 which passes beyond the stiif member 3| and carries one point of a pair of contacts 38. An insulation piece 44 is attached to stop member 3| and, although the tension in blade 33 tends to move extension 43 against member 3|, insulator M keeps them separated as shown until they are separated further when mark 2| causes movement of the finger to the left, at which time blade 33 is momentarily flexed while contacts 38 are closed.

Another somewhat similar sensing finger 45 is attached to the other blade 32. This sensing finger also has a formation such as the elongated portion 42 and the angular stop 43. However, the elongated portion also acts as a clamp in its upper section to attach the finger to the blade 32. This sensing finger 45 also carries one contact point of a pair of contacts 39 and cooperates with a strip of insulation on member 3| which holds it in a position wherein the contacts are normally opened.

In Fig. 6 it is seen that the two sensing fingers 353 and 45 are situated to cooperate with different portions of the margin of sheets, such as record 23. Finger 48 is positioned to detect the appearance of mark 2 I located in relation with the initial printing position of the ledger sheet. It is also arranged to sense the presence of form spacing marks 24, Fig. 5. The other sensing finger45 is located to detect thev appearance of line spacing marks" 22-.

The pressure with which said fingers bear down on records may be varied by adjusting spring 21 to lengthen or shorten it, and the positions of the fingers may bevaried by shifting blades 32 and 33 30. along. so that the effective working part of the.

blades 32 and 33- is shortened at the same time that the effective part of spring 27 is lengthened, or these adjustments may be reversed when found necessary by the frictional nature of the record material or the marks thereon. When a high degree'of sensitivity is required, spring 27 must be' adjusted to press-lightly on the records and blades32 and 33 must be of such length as to allow free movement of the sensing portions at the ends of the blades.

The" arrangement'of the sensing device in Fig. 8 is designed to detect the appearance of a friction mark on a surface'of' less friction. A reverse arrangement such as that shown in Fig. 850 can be used when it is desired todetect marks 21a of a low frictional coefficient on a surface of highly frictionalnature. The contacts 3811 are normally closed and'bl'ade-33a tends to 'keep them that way; but upon engagement of end 32a with the friction surface of sheet 25; the contacts 38a are openedend held open until the mark 21a of wax, graphite, powder, or the'like, is engaged. Then the end na-skids over themark and towards the right" to close contacts 380. momentarily, and again open them as the sheet surface engages the end 42a" and moves it towards the left. In this modification it may be noted that a depression or perforation in the record causes the same contact closing action as a mark 2 la.

It isunderstood that circuit breaker devices are: used to render ineffective thev normal closure of the contacts in' the device of Fig. 8a, and a simiiar'preoaution is taken to make ineffective all impulses initiated when the sensing device of Fig; 8 strikes the edges of sheets.

The electrical circuits established through conta'cts'38' and39, Fig. 6', are used to energize relays which control clutch magnets and driving connections of a gear'train, (Fig; 1) which is used to control movement of a platen 25. is'moved forsheet' feedin'gby means of a motor M which carries a gear 55 attached to the motor shaft 56. Sli'ding'on a splined portion of motor shaft 55 is a clutch disc 5'! adapted to engage with a clutch friction surface 58 on a gear 59 attached to a worm shaft 50 cooperating with a worm wheel 6| attached to the platen 25. The shaft 56 isin axial alignment with the worm 60 so that, when a driving connection is established, the worm and worm wheel cooperate so that each revolution of" the shaft 56' causes a line space movement of platen 25.

Disc 5]" is. formedwith. a groove in which there extends the operating end. of armature lever 52 pivoted at 53 alongside the driving gears. A spring 64 attached to lever'62'normal1y holds the disc 51. in a position wherein it is separated from the. clutch surface 58, thus holding the platen out of operation. However, whenever a main clutch magnet MCM is energized, lever 62 is rocked in a The platen counterclockwise direction and disc 5] is forced against the clu tch face 58 and a driving connection is established between the. motor M and the: platen 25. These connections are controlled to" persist over more than one line space to be used for long feeding operations wherein a strip. is spaced between forms or a sheet is reinserted.

Other clutch connections are provided to control the platen: for line spacing operation and: for feeding ledger sheets beyond the last mark sens-- ing position sothat the sheet is moved above the sensing devices into a position wherein it receives not only other lines of print butalso other marks to control subsequent feeding opera-- tions. In mesh with gear 55 is a gear 65 on a shaft 66 which is splined to carry a clutch disc 61 adapted: to cooperate with a frictional clutch surface 68 on a gear 69 having another clutch surface 10. This gear 69 is loosely mounted on the end of shaft 66- but meshes with gear 59'attached. to the worm drive shaft 60. Disc 61' is formed with a groove in which there extends one end of an armature lever "H pivoted at 12. A spring l3 attached to lever 1| tends tokeep the clutch open but whenever a related magnet SMZ is energized, the lever is rocked in a clockwise direction and the clutch is closed to establish a driving connection from the motor M, through gears 55 and 65, through clutch 6'! and '68 and thence through gears 69 and 59 to shaft 60 which drives theplaten.

Cooperating with the other clutch surface 10" is another clutch disc 14- splined' on a shaft Hi mounted in bearing blocks 7-5. This clutch disc 14 is normally held out of engagement by an armature lever 16- pivoted at 11 and having a spring 78 urging it towards a disengaged position. Cooperating with the lever 16 is a magnet SMI which is energized to engage the clutch M whenever it is desired to measure or limit the line spacing movement of platen 25.

Auxiliary devices are provided in association with clutch M-so that it may function as a single revolution clutch. For this purpose there is attachedtoshaft H} a single toothed disc 19 (Figs. 1 and 3), the tooth of which cooperates with the end of an armature lever 80 pivoted at 8| and provided with a spring 82 which tends to hold the lever in position to engage the disc 79 as it rotates in a counterclockwise direction. A magnet SRM is provided to govern the single revolution control by attracting lever 80 to rock it and free the disc TS and'sha-ft [0 for operation, so that the connected clutch disc M may turn as operated by the clutch surface 15 and gear 69. A pair of contact operating cams II and 52 are mounted on shaft Hi and used togovern the feeding operation as explained hereinafter with reference to the wiring diagram.

A dash pot DP is provided with lever and link connections 83 and 54' attached to the end of armature lever 16 for delaying engagement of clutch i-'il'l-4, so that magnet. SRMmay effect releaseof the single revolution stop lever 80 beforea clutch connection is established, when both magnets SRM and SM! are energized at the same time.

The devices for marking a series of marginal friction feed control designations on a ledger sheetare shown in Fig. 1a. There it is seen that a solenoid PS contains a core piece 86 which is normally drawn upward by a lever 83 pivoted at 92 on a bracket 89. A spring 81 is drawnbetween the lever and the bracket tohold the lever normally positioned as shown.

Pivoted on the left end of lever 88 is an impresslon arm 9| attached to a stud 90. Lever 88 fits loosely over the stud 99 and under a washer which is confined thereon by the end of a spiral spring 91 one end of which is attached near the top of stud 90 and the other end fixed to a pin on the lever. This spring 91 tends to move arm 9| parallel with the end of the lever but the arm is operated positively to oscillate between the position shown, wherein it rests on a pad 94 containing friction material, and the dotted line position 9|a wherein it effects an impression to deposit the friction material as a mark 22 on sheet 28.

The oscillating movement of arm 9| is governed by portions of bracket 89 in the form of extending lugs 96 and 99 and pin 98 which cooperate with teeth 95 and H19 on the arm. When the solenoid PS is energized, core piece 86 is attracted and the connected lever 88 is rocked clockwise.- Then, as center 98 moves upward, spring 91 rocks arm 9| counterclockwise, inserting tooth 95 between lug 99 and pin 98. After the arm 9| has rocked through an angle of 90 degrees, the spring 91 is no longer tensioned, but then the pin 98 is in positive engagement between teeth 95 and I89 and as the lever 88 rocks further the pin turns the arm through the greater part of another 90 degrees the final portion of which movement is directed at right angles to platen 25 with the side of arm 9| sliding along the side of lug 96. The impression arm 9| then strikes against the record sheet in a direct perpendicular blow to impress the friction material thereon. If a solid crayon, wax, or the like, are to be marked thereon, the arm may be made longer and tipped with the solid material which is then marked on with the arcuate penciling movement.

During the second 90 degrees of the printing movement of arm 9|, spring 9! is tensioned and tends to turn the arm clockwise but is prevented by the contact of the arm against lug 96. However, when the solenoid PS is deenergized, spring 81 becomes effective to pull lever 88 down, and then arm 9| turns 180 degrees in a clockwise direction. The final portion of the arm movement is brought about by the engagement of pin 98 with tooth I90 and the turning of tooth 95 around lug 99. As lever 88 nears the end of the return stroke, the side of arm 9| slides along the side of lug 99 and the point of the impression arm is directed perpendicularly into the pad 94 which is held on the bracket 89 by a cup 93.

The marginal mark printing unit is situated one line space above the position of the sensing devices (Fig. 4) so that when the ledger sheets 20 are fed two spaces beyond the position in which the last recorded friction mark 22 is sensed, the sheet will be in the proper print receiving position ready for the reception of another mark which accompanies the printing of the first item of the new group of items. Before pointing out the various combinations of substances from which the records and index points may be constituted, it may be explained that the variations are as numerous as the kinds of matter to be found with different frictional characteristics. As a general rule, materials with rough, hard surfaces were found to have a low coefiicient of friction and the cooperating sensing finger slid over such surfaces but was retarded when a spot of rubber, gum, wax orpitch engaged the finger.

The materials found satisfactory for establishing areas of friction on record members of a low 8 friction surface such as sheet metal, card stock, newsprint, typewriter paper, or the like are as follows:

The materials which performed satisfactorily in creating areas of a low coeflicient of friction on record members of a higher frictional value such as sheet aluminum, weighted papers, and other materials smooth to the touch, were found to be, graphite, wax, china marking pencil, or the foregoing dissolved in alcohol, acetone, turpentine, carbon-disulphide, or benzol. In record members of this kind, perforations and depressions are as effective as the low friction material in influencing movement of the sensing fingers.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that some marking materials are effective on either kind of record. This is so when the frictional index of the material is midway between the friction values of the surfaces of record members having extremely high or low coefficients of friction.

The friction material when in the form of a solid may be marked or deposited on the records in the differential positions. When liquified it may be carried on ribbons or pads and transferred therefrom to the record material in any well known manner of printing. Coloring pigment may be added to the friction deposit material when distinctive character or index point outlines are to be made, otherwise a clear colorlessdeposit will serve for most purposes. The friction materials may also be either the same color as the background or contrasted therewith according to the purpose of hiding or revealing the marks.

Instead of using material to form a frictional area a certain portion or area of the surface of a record may be treated mechanically to create a surface having a coefiicient of friction difiering from the surrounding areas. The printing impression arm 9|, described hereinbefore, can be formed with a strikin face that acts mechanically to indent, emboss, roughen or smooth a record surf-ace, rather than deposit material thereon.

Turning now to the controls for governing the feeding of ledger sheets and continuous strips, reference may be made to the electrical wiring diagram shown in Fig. 10. It is understood that these controls are connected and coordinated with the electrical controls of an accounting machine, such as that shown in Patent 1,976,617, or the one disclosed in Patent 1,762,145. The feed devices are controlled and coordinated with the accounting machine by means of listing cam contacts which are operated during item entering cycles and other total cam contacts which become effectively only on total taking cycles. The usual line spacing mechanism of the machine is disabled while the disclosed feed controls are selected'for'operation. Closure of the switches SW and SW-I connect the main lines 334 and 335 of the accounting machineto the feed control devices and also energize motor M for turning gears '55;and 65 (Fig. 1) and clutch discs 51 and 61.

, *When ledger sheets are to be handled, the switch SW2, Fig. 10, is open to prevent automatic starting of thesheet'feed through closure of cam .contacts P21; and instead, the feeding operation is initiated by operation of the feed starting key .FSto close contacts I and-set up a circuit through a relay 2' comprising line 334, contact I, relay 2, wire I05,'contacts I06, and wires I01 and M1 to ,line 335. Relay 2 then closes associated contacts 168 and I69 to set upa holding circuit and also condition themain clutch-magnet MCM for op- .eration. The holding circuit includes line 334, wire- H6, contacts 108, wire I-I I,,relay 2*, wire I05, contactsIIlGand wires I01, 1 to line 335. Mag- :net MCM is energized by a circuit throughline 3:34., wire-I I 0, contacts 1 I19, wireI I2, magnet MCM and line 1 3 Referring to Fig. 1, it is seen that actuation of magnet MGM causes clutch 51 to engage and I drive .the platen to teed the sheetaslong as'it is :sustainedin operation. Feeding continues until :the friction :control "mark 2i (Fig. 6) strikes tfinger 4J6 andeauses ,contactsSIl to close, ener- -gizing relays.5 and 6 (Fig. to deenergize imagnetz-lllGM. eRelay-5isencrgi-Zed bya circuit 'iwhichzmay be traced throughdi'ne 334, wire H3, :ccntacts 33, wire (I I=4,--relay 5, wire .I I5, contacts I; t6. and :wire I I;1-toline 335. vRelay 5 then operzates 170 openlassociated contacts H8 andclose other contacts I I6 and I23. Fingervefl is operated Joy bicth-irictionmarkseand-severing lines; how- .:ever,th,e.;marlcs;are of substantial width or ver- .:;tical depth when compared with the severing :lincs. Therefore;when-amark 2| is encountered, contacts 138 are -:closed and circuit connections .=.a;r.e;maintained:for a-,-lar;ger period of time than -when-.;a.severing line'is sensed.

iClo'suremi contacts I-,-- serves to energize, relay 1:3 through a gcircuit-includingline 33 4, wire I2I, .contacts I23, .relay ,6, wire I22, contacts I23, :wire 1-2.4 anddir e 33-5. Closure of contacts .I I9 makesrmagnetzjfiRiMgeffective by means-0f a circcuit ;including:1ine;;334, wire I-2I, contacts III), ,wirerlfit, magnet ;,SRM= and wire-I24 to line 335. .Whemenergized, relay -,6 I sets up a holding cir- -cuitthroughrthe closure ;of contacts I21. Then .-a,. circuit. is .establishedtthrough line .334, wire I28, contacts I21, relay 6, wire I22, contacts I23, and 'wire: I24 to line,=335. Relay 6 also operatesother .contacts 112910 energize, magnets SMI and 8M2 at thetsame timethatassociated contacts 166 :are openedto deenergize-relayZ, open contacts I09, and make clutch magnet MCMineffective, so that the long feeding operation is terminated. 'Line space control magnets SMI and SM2 are energized :by means ;of ,a circuit including line 334,:wiresl28, contacts I21 and I29, magnets ,SMI and SM2,arranged in parallel and wire 136 to line 335.

Wit-h all :three magnets aSRM, SMI and SMZ J (Fig. 1) energized, it is apparent that the clutch connections are establishedfor initiatingthe first :of aseries of-line spacing operations. The number'of line-spacing movements-that-iollow are limited toetwo. operations unless a mark is. encountered and'jthen' the operations depend; upon 'the number of times that the; contacts 39 (Fig. 6) are closedbymarginal marks'22. In the sequence of :operationszaboutzto he pointed out, it is as- 10 sumed that the sheet has no marks 22. As the ,first line spacing operation takes place, shaft ,I-D.( Fig. 1) is rotatedcarryingthe cam I I thereon aroundina counterclockwisedirection (Fig. 10) ,so that cooperating contacts I2 are closed near the. end of the,cycle. The closure of these contacts energizes :a magnet I3 through a circuit including line 334, wire I28, contact ,ccntact #29, ,wire .I 3.I, I32, contacts .I2, wire I33, magnet I3 andwire I ;to line .335. This magnet then operates a pawl mechanism I and ratchet I39 to shift a switch .arm I4 from the normal stop I 35 to an intermediate terminal point I36. Through ,the closed contact I36, magnet SRM again v.energized to release the clutch shaft for asecondline spacing operation. The circuit comprises ,line 334, wire I28, contacts I21 and 3,23, wiresJSI, I32and M2,.arm14, terminal I36, .wire .ItI, magnet SRMand wire I24 to line 335. operation of magnet SRM-releases shaft Ii) :fora sec nd'operatio-n during which contacts ,LZ-ereclosed near the end of the operation, again energizing magnet I3. ,Ener-gization of magnet I3 causes operation of the ratchet and pawl ,rnechanismto-advance arm I4 another step to cooperate withcontactpoint I31. Through circuits established by. contact .with point I31, relays I5, I6 "and magnet H are energized to cause cessation of line spacing and resetting of the electrical-controls in readiness for other feeding operations. The circuit through ,relay I5 may ,befollowedwfrom line 334, through wire I28, con- :tacts=I2-1.and.l.;23, wire .I3I, wire I32, wire I42, :e-rm I4, contact point I31, ,wire I43, relay I5, @HQ'WHBJZA ;to,l-i-ne ;335. Relay -I5 closes associated contacts 444 and I45. Closure of contact I44 serves to activate;r elay I6 through a circuit which may be traced from line 334,

:through wire, 3.IlIl, relay -I6,.Wire I46,'contacts-I4,4. wire-I24, to line;3-35. Then relay I6 operates-t0 open contacts I23 thereby-disabling theholding circuit, connections through relay 6. Since opera- -t ign Qf mag net I.3=caus es movement of arm I4 .a-w-a-y,from terminal I36,-it deenergizes magnet .SRM to allow the armature lever'86 (Fig. 3) ,to s-wingback into position; obstructing thesingle toothed member 1 9 on shaft III. The other contact-I45 when-closed seryes'to set up a circuit through ,the magnete I1 cooperating with a detent lever I41 normal ly holding the ratchet wheel "1 :38 so that -the 33,1311 I4 is held in the adjusted posit on h n asn t l en d. th detent I-41 is operated'and the ratchet is regleased sothat it -n-1a-y ;be rocked in a counterckw-i d ect n a p ra -sprine to throw mI4back against the fixedstop I35. A-cirthrqu h:m ene ":ma b et a ed omi fiiikthroush wir m. l y 1e wi .146. .een-

ligan -w re I-3 1 l n 33.5.

=When relay 6 isdeenergized by the openi f contacts I 2 3,-the associated contacts I29 are openediand magnetsSMI and SM2 are deenergized becauseethe circuit through these magnets wzas .,e stablished through contacts I29. Since these two ;magnets then release associated clutches, the linespacing feed ofthe ledger sheet is i-nterrupted after. it has beenspaced two line spaces. beyond the position in which the mark 2I ger 45 will also cooperate with marks 22 to determine the differential displacement of the sheet. The first mark 22 is encountered upon the first step of line space movement after mark 21 is encountered. The purpose of the finger 45 and connected controls is to reset the feeding control mechanism each time a mark 22 is sensed, so that the line spacin operations started by mark 2| will continue until (when the last mark is sensed) two line spacing operations will follow to move the highest unprinted line of the sheet above the sensing devices and stop it in position to receive impressions from the type. In other words, the marks 22 and the controls operated thereby serve to forestall feed stoppage because they keep arm I4 from moving to point I31; therefore, relay I is not operated until after the last mark 22 is passed. The contacts 39, when operated and closed by one or more marks 22, cause energization of relay I9 and magnet I1 (Fig. to restore the ratchet and pawl mechanism and also deenergize relay 5. The initiating circuit through contacts 39 maybe traced through line 334, wire II3, contacts 39, relay I9, wire I5I,

contacts II8, wires I01 and H1 to line 335. Relay I9 then opens the contacts II6 previously mentioned, and closes contacts I52 to establish a circuit through magnet I1 which maybe followed through line 334, wire H3, contacts I52, wire I49,

magnet I1 and wire I39 to line 335. Through these connectionsmagnet I1 will serve to restore arm I4 each time a marginal feed control mark 22 is sensed on the ledger sheet. Arm I4 touches terminal I36 each time magnet I3 is energized by the closure of contacts I2, but the arm is restored immediately and prevented from touching terminal I31. Since magnets SMI and SM2 continue to be energized, and since magnet SRM is energized each time arm I4 'touches'terminal I36, there will be initiated a continuous series of spacing operations with magnet SRM recurrently effecting a feed cycle, during which contacts I2 are closed to call in magnet I3 which operates arm I4 to again touch terminal I36. During such operations, marks 22' and magnet I1 operated thereby serve merely to restore arm I4 successively. After the last mark is sensed, the contacts 39 open, magnet I1 becomes ineffective and then arm I4 can be shiftedunder control of magnet I3 on two successive operations to cause the double line spacing movement and termination of the feed as outlined hereinbefore. Of course,

each operation of magnet I3 is accompanied by a linespacing operation, because not only is magnet SRM operated for clutch release, but magnets SMI and SM2 are effective for clutch operationsince relay 6 is maintained effective.

Durin the succession of line spacing operations caused by the detection of the first and following marks 22, relay. 5 is deenergized' to insure closure of contacts IIB for the effectiveness of relay I9; Relay 5 is not needed for operation of magnet SRM at the time, because then magnet time magnet I3'is energized'by cam II; Relay 5 ,SRM is energized through terminal; I36 everyis not needed to energize relay 6 because this relay is held energized through contacts I23 since terminal I31 is not reached to' call in relay I6 to I4fis rockedto touch terminal I31 f-or terminating spacing as already explained.

When feeding continuousstrips such as strip 23, it is well to distinguish between the line of severing perforations 46 and the frictional mark 24 thereon because both of these portions of the strip act to influence the sensing fingers and effect closure of contacts 38 and 39. The leading edge of a ledger sheet also strikes both fingers simultaneously and tends to close the contacts. Either the sensing devices must be made nonresponsive to these interruptions or other provisions made to counteract their effect. Therefore control circuits are provided to nullify the effect of the contacts when they are closed together. On the continuous strip a distinction is made between the two kinds of frictional surfaces by restricting the width of the mark 24 so that it will influence only one of the contact closing fingers while the line of perforations cooperates with both contact closin members. When both contacts are closed simultaneously, it is desired that there should be no change in the long feeding operation taking place at the time. For this reason the closing of contacts 38 (Fig. 10) energizes the relay 5 through contacts I I6 which will be opened by relay I9 when it is energized by the closing of contacts 39. Similarly, the return circuit for relay I9 isopened by contacts II8 of relay 5 when this relay is energized by the 010- sure of contacts 38. Relay 6 is a retarded action relay and although picked up momentarily by relay 5, its contacts are not fully operated when relay 5 again deenergizes. The contact blades of relay 6 could also be attached to a dash pot for further delay if it is needed. In this way, when both contacts 38 and 39 are closed simultaneously, no variation in sheet feeding control is effected, but the closingof contacts 38 alone does cause the termination of long feeding and the closing of contacts 39 causes initiation of successive line spacin operations as already pointed out.

After each line of item or total print is recorded on a sheet or strip, it is desired that a line spacing operation take place to advance the record. For this purpose either switch SW3 or SW9 is closed to make either cam contacts L28 or P29 effective, depending upon whether controlls wished to accompany item listing or total tabulating. These cam contacts are arranged to close late in the'printing cycles after an impression has been made. The feeding operation is initiated by the closure of contacts L28 near the end of each item printing operation. The impulse through contacts L28 energizes relay 8 through a circuit which may be followed from line 334, through switch SW3, wire I54, contacts L28, relay 8, contacts I55,.and wire I56 to line 335. Relay 8 then establishes a holding circuit for itself through closed contacts I51 and wire SMI and SM2. The circuit follows a course through line 334, wire I58, contacts I59, wire I3I, magnets SMI, SM2, and wire I30 to line 335. Another contact I63 is closed by relay 8 to send current through a contact arm I6I to energize the single revolution release magnet SRM. The circuit through the magnet follows a path through line 334, wire I53, contacts I65, wire I62, contact arm I6I, wire I63, wire I4I, magnet SRM and wire I24 to line 335. The activity of the three magnets SRM, SMI and SMZ causes release and operation of the clutch devices for connecting the platen to the driving motor so that the record media may be shifted one step. As the feed connections are operated, shaft III turns a cam 52 mounted thereon to cooperate with contacts 54 to close them just before the completion of one revolution. Closure of contacts 54 serves to set up a circuit for energizing a magnet 3 for shifting arm IIiI. The circuit for magnet 3 may be followed from line 334, through wire I53, contacts I60, wires I62 and I65, contacts 54, wire I65, magnet 3, and wire I51 to line 335.

Energization of magnet 3 causes operation of pawl I63 to rotate ratchet I59 and move arm IBI in contact with terminal point I10. The circuit thus closed by arm I5I, includes a relay 4 which i is energized by the connections from line 334,

through wire I58, contacts I55, wire I52, arm I BI, terminal I15, wire I1], relay 4 and line 335. Relay 4 then operates to close contacts I12, to operate magnet 1 and restore arm I6 I, and it also opens contacts I55 to disable relay 8. There is sufficient lag between the operation of relay 4 to close contacts I12, and the release of relay 8 to'open contacts I63, so that both contacts are closed momentarily for an impulse through magnets. 1 at the end of the feed cycle.

Thecircuit through magnet 1 may be followed from line 334, through wire I58, contacts I60, wire I62, arm I61, terminal I16, wire I1I, contacts I12,- wire I13, magnet 1, and wire I51 to line 335. Magnet 1 operates the detent lever I14 to release ratchet I69 so that the arm I6I thereon may be moved back to the normal position by aclock spring attached to the ratchet wheel.

When arm I5I touches terminal I and relay 4-..is energized, contacts I55 are opened and the holding circuit through relay 8 is interrupted. It is this relay 6 and its related contacts I59 and lfifliwhichcaused the energization of feed control magnets SMI, SMZ and SRM for the one cycle of. operation that isterminated when the relay becomes inactive. From the foregoing it is apparent that the record sheet or strip is advanced one. line space after each listing or tabulating cycle.

Whenever items are being printed on a ledger sheet. 20; Fig. 4, it is desired that a friction mark 22fbe placed opposite each line of print. It is for this reason that a switch SW4, Fig. 10, is closed to energize print solenoid PS, Fig. 1a, while posting. The circuit through the solenoid, Fig. 10, may be traced from line 334, through wire I16, solenoid PS, wire I11, cam contacts L4I closed at. the usual printing time, switch SW4 and HD6335.

Since the forms of the continuous strip 23 (Fig. 5) areto be printed in a single continuous cycle of printing operation, there is no need for the impression thereon of marks such as marks 22. which appear on a ledger sheet. Instead, the forms are merely advanced a line space: after. each printing cycle and then, finallyon; the occurrence of a total printing cycle, connections are established to start a long feeding operation, whereupon the strip is shifted until a mark 24 is encountered and then a new form is in the initial print receiving position. For form feeding, control switch SW2 is closed to place a relay I18 in circuit with cam contacts P21 closed near the end of each total printing operation. Then a circuit passes through relay I18. in the following manner: from line 334, through wire I85, contacts P21, switch SW2, relay I18, wire I3I, to line 335. The relay I18 then closes contacts I19 to initiate operation of the relay 2 previously mentioned. The circuit through relay 2 may be followed from line 334, through wire Illl, wire I82, contacts I19, wire I83, relay 2, wire I65, contacts I66, wires I01 and I I1 to line 335. Relay 2, when effective, operates in the same manner as when activated by the start key FS, and calls into operation the main clutch magnet MOM as previously described. The sheet continues to move until the friction mark 24 thereon encounters the feeler finger 40 (Fig. 6) whereupon the contacts 38 (Fig. 10) are closed and the connected relays 5 and 6 are energized. The operation of relay 6 serves to open contacts I06 which are in series with the start relay 2 and the clutch magnet MCM. Therefore, when this connection is opened, both controls are made ineifective, the sheet feeding clutch connection is disengaged and the strip is stopped in a position related to the sensed mark.

There are conditions under which it is advisable to record totals rather than items on the record sheets. Under such tabulating conditions, the strip or sheets are to be fed a single line space after the printing of each total and to remain stationary while items are being added. In order to select such control, a switch SW6 may be closed to place cam contacts P28 in line with the space initiating relay 8 while the usual operating control through listing contacts L28 is disabled by the opening of switch SW3. When such tabulating feed control is in effect, the printing of the special marks along with total printing is selected by the closure of switch SW1 to direct impulses through cam contacts P25 and print solenoid PS late in each total printing operation.

When ledger sheets are being handled, the cam contacts L21 and P21 do not have any effect in inserting the sheets. Instead, the operator inserts each ledger sheet manually and then presses the start key F8 to direct an impulse through relay 2 to initiate the operation for automatically positioning the sheet. However, the ledger sheets may be ejected after the entry of a single item,

or upon the taking of a total, by selective closure of switches SW5 or SW2. The total is to be nonprinted when the sheet is ejected after receiving a series of items.

The circuit may be traced from line 335, through card lever contacts 53a, circuit breaker contacts CBC, along channel 2 I6, finger 2 I2, contact 2I5, member 269, plug socket 225, plug Wire 225, magnet AM, magnet PM and line 334. The energizing magnets serve to stop a related type bar in a differential printing position and also clutch the related adding wheel to start entering the amount represented by the mark sensed.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in itsoperation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

. What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for feeding record material with horizontal severing lines of friction and a horizontal edge, said material bearing an area of friction distinguished from the surface of the material, means for feeding said material, a pair of sensing means cooperating with the surface of said material, one of said sensing means being positioned to detect the appearance of said frictional area thereunder as said material is fed and also detect said edge and lines of friction, the other of said sensing means being aligned with the first mentioned sensing means and positioned to avoid detection of said area but to detect said horizontal edge and lines of friction, means for stopping said feeding means, means under control of said one sensing means for operating said stopping means when an area of friction is detected, and means under control of said other sensing means for preventing operation'of said stop operating means when both sensing means detect the edge or severing line of friction of the material.

2. In a device for controlling the feeding of record material bearing areas of frictional characteristics differing from the surfaceof the material, means for feeding said material, a sensing means comprising a flexible element bearing upon the surface of said material and tensioned to resist movement in the direction of movement of material, said flexible element carrying one contact of a pair of contacts, a stiff member carrying another contact opposite the first mentioned contact and located in a direction along the line of travel of said material so that when the element encounters a frictional area and is carried along thereby, said contacts will be closed, and electric control means connected to said contacts for controlling operation of said feeding means.

3. In a machine for feeding a' record bearing deposits of friction material to influence the positioning of said record, means for feeding said record, means for influencing the extent of operation of said feeding means comprising a sensing means cooperating with said record to detect the appearance of said frictional deposits, said sensing means including a sensing finger mounted on an adjustable flexible blade, said blade being mounted in a holder on an adjustable spring member causing said finger to bear down on the surface of said record, said first mentioned blade being tensioned to resist the movement of said finger along with said record in the direction of movement of the record, a contact on said finger, another contact opposite the first mentioned contact and mounted on a stiff immovable member held in said holder, said contacts being closed when said finger is shifted by encountering a frictional deposit on the record moved by the feeding means.

4. In a machine for printing items and totals on ledger sheets, said sheets bearing a frictional deposit related to the first item printing line of the sheet and other marginal friction marks related to lines of print on said sheet, friction sensitive means for sensing the appearance of said deposit on a moving sheet, friction sensitive means for sensing said marks on a moving sheet, a main operating means, a feeding means for said sheets, a clutch between said feeding means and the operating means, a magnet for operating said clutch, relay controls for energizing and deener- 16 gizing said magnet, a start key, contacts in series with said relay controls and operated by said key to initiate feeding operation, other contacts in V series with said relay controls and operated after printing to initiate feeding, means under control of the first-mentioned sensing means for operating said relay controls to terminate feeding, line spacing clutch devices between said main operating means and sheet feeding means, magnets for operating said line spacing clutches, control relays for energizing and deenergizing said magnets, a single revolution clutch control, a magnet for operating said control, means under control of said second-mentioned sensing means for operating the line space control relays to feed the sheet according to the number of marginal marks thereon, means cooperating with said line space relays .to initiate two line spacing operations after the sensing of the last marginal mark, a mark printing means, a solenoid for operating said means, and means for energizing said solenoid to print an additional mark under said other marginal friction marks after said sheet is inserted and as an'incident to printing a line of data on said sheet.

5. In a machine for printing and feeding a ledger sheet bearing an area of a frictional coefficient differing from that of the surface of said sheet, said areabeing positioned relative to the first item print receiving line on said sheet, a

member resting on said sheet in the path of said area and sensitive to the frictional nature of the surface of said sheet, said member being shifted relative to a normal position by said frictional area when the sheet is moved relative thereto to a predetermined extent, means for moving said sheet and member relative to each other, and means under control of said member for stopping operation of said shifting means when the sheet is in position to receive a first line of print.

6. In a machine for printing, feeding and reinserting a ledger sheet bearing a series of colorless marginal deposits of friction material differing in coefficient of friction from the surface of the sheet, said deposits being positioned relative to lines of print on said sheet and marking the progress of printing on said sheet, means for feeding said sheet to insert and eject it, means for controlling operation of said feeding means, means cooperating with said feeding means for line spacing said sheet, a member resting on said sheet in the path of said deposits and sensitive to the frictional nature of the surface of said sheet, said member being shifted relative to normal position upon encountering each deposit on a sheet while feedingmeans under control of said memher for operating said line spacing means successively to feed said sheet to a print receiving position directly beyond the last printed line, and means for placing an additional deposit of friction material on said sheet after insertion and as an incident to the, printing of each line.

7. In a machine for printing and feeding a continuous strip divided into forms with headings, each form bearing an area of a frictional characteristic differing from the frictional nature of the surface of the strip, said area being positioned relative to the first print line of the form, a member resting on said strip in the path of said area and sensitive to the frictional nature of the surface of said sheet, saidmember being shifted to receive the first line of print below the heading on a. succeeding form, and means for initiating operation of said feeding means after printing is completed.

WALDEMAR A. AYRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Carroll et al Oct. 6, 1942 Ghertman Feb. 9, 1943 Reingruber Feb. 1, 1938 Ghertman Dec. 5, 1939 

